Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh AC

Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh hailed from Devrala village in Bulandshahar district of Uttar Pradesh. He was born into a simple farming family, the proud son of Shri Omvir Singh and Shrimati Rajas. Growing up in a rural environment, Nk Neeraj was raised with strong values of discipline, hard work, and responsibility. He had three siblings, and together they shared the modest yet enriching life of a close-knit family. From his childhood, Nk Neeraj harboured a strong desire to do something meaningful in life. His heart was drawn towards the Indian Army, and he was deeply fascinated by the idea of serving the nation in uniform. The courage and dedication of soldiers inspired him, and he aspired to one day don the olive green himself. Motivated by this dream, Nk Neeraj joined the Indian Army and was recruited into the 13 Battalion of Rajputana Rifles, one of the most illustrious and battle-honoured regiments of the Indian Army. Known for its fearless soldiers and glorious history, the regiment gave him the perfect foundation to grow as a disciplined and committed soldier.

After serving with distinction in his parent regiment for some time, Nk Neeraj was later deputed to the 57 Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR). The Rashtriya Rifles is a counter-insurgency force deployed in Jammu & Kashmir, tasked with the challenging responsibility of combating militancy in one of the most volatile regions of the country. His posting to the RR demanded courage, resilience, and an unwavering sense of duty—qualities that Nk Neeraj embodied in abundance. Despite the tough life of a soldier, Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh cherished his role in the Army and held it close to his heart. He deeply loved the life of service and sacrifice that came with wearing the uniform. His dedication was such that he often expressed the wish that his two young sons—Kunal and Lovepita—would one day follow in his footsteps and become Army officers themselves. 

Kupwara Operation: 24 Aug 2014

On 24th August 2014, Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh was serving with the 57 Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu & Kashmir, a unit specially tasked with counter-insurgency operations. That day, his team launched a search and destroy mission in the Dhok area of Kupwara, an insurgency-prone region known for militant movement. As the Army patrol closed in on the suspected location, the hiding militants suddenly opened indiscriminate fire, triggering a fierce gun battle. Amidst the heavy exchange of bullets, one of Neeraj’s buddies was hit on his bulletproof jacket. Showing selfless courage, Naik Neeraj immediately crawled forward, braving the hail of bullets, and dragged his injured comrade to safety. Even as he saved his buddy, Naik Neeraj himself came under direct attack from a terrorist who hurled grenades and fired at him. Undeterred, he advanced towards the threat, closing the distance, and in a bold counterattack shot the militant dead.

But the encounter did not end there. Another terrorist targeted him, firing a burst of bullets that grievously injured Neeraj and knocked his rifle from his hands. At this critical juncture, when most would have succumbed to pain and shock, Neeraj displayed extraordinary grit and presence of mind. Refusing to back down, he lunged at the armed militant bare-handed, snatched the weapon from him, and eliminated him in hand-to-hand combat. Despite being mortally wounded, Naik Neeraj refused evacuation and continued to motivate his comrades to press on with the mission until he eventually collapsed from his injuries. He was rushed to the 92 Base Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. His fearless action resulted in the elimination of three top-ranked Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, delivering a major blow to the militant network in the region. Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh’s actions that day were marked by exceptional leadership, raw courage, and an indomitable fighting spirit. He not only saved a fellow soldier but also neutralized multiple terrorists in close-quarter battle, epitomizing the highest traditions of the Indian Army. For his unparalleled gallantry and supreme sacrifice, the nation honoured him with the “Ashok Chakra”, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.

Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh is survived by his wife, Smt. Parameshwari and his two sons, Kunal and Lovepita, for whom he had often dreamt of a future in the Army. 

The citation for the Ashok Chakra awarded to him reads:

Based on specific intelligence, Brigade Ghataks launched a Search and Destroy Operation at General area Gurdaji of Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on 24 August 2014. At 1025 hours, party noticed movement of few terrorists close to a Dhok, who opened indiscriminate fire on own troops. In the ensuring fire fight, a friend of Naik Neeraj was hit on bullet proof jacket. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Naik Neeraj crawled and extricated his friend. A terrorist threw grenades and brought heavy fire on Naik Neeraj. In a daring act, he inched closer to the terrorist and shot him dead. Simultaneously, the NCO was attacked by another terrorist resulting in dropping of his Rifle and the terrorist shot him in the chest. Despite grievous injuries, displaying unparalleled courage, he pounced on the terrorist, snatched his weapon and killed him in hand-to-hand combat. He refused to be evacuated till he became unconscious and was evacuated by helicopter to 92 Base Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. During the operation, before attaining martyrdom, Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh displayed exemplary leadership skills, raw courage, planning and swift action, which culminated in the elimination of the three top ranked Hizbul Mujaheddin terrorists.

Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award in 2014.